Extreme Shearing

Shearing sheep in New Zealand is included in Time magazine’s list of ’25 (More) Authentic Asian Experiences’. “Schweebing and Zorbing not your thing? While many pumped-up tourists go to New Zealand to participate in the nation’s fixation on death-defying sporting events, some locals seek their adrenalin surge from another extreme sport: sheep-shearing. Sheep are a big part of rural life on the Shaky Isles, where the woolly creatures outnumber humans 9 to 1. You can try your hand at sheep-shearing at various agricultural hubs throughout the country, where pros demonstrate the tricky task and a few will let tourists have a go at it. Average sheep-shearing time? Two minutes. Helmets and harnesses? Not required. But you might need a shower after.”